Inflammatory markers associated with relapse in ulcerative colitis.

Background: apart from endoscopic intervention, cost effective biomarkers for for prediction of relapse in ulcerative colitis are needed, for treatment modulation to achieve the best outcome of these patients. Patients and methods: A cohort study carried out in Internal Medicine Department, and Immunology Departments, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig university hospitals. All subjects submitted to full history taking, clinical examination, colonoscopy and laboratory Investigations as CRP, ESR, and fecal calprotectin. Results: There was a statistically significant increase in mean values of hemoglobin, serum albumin, and mean platelet volume with a significant decrease in mean value of white blood cell count, N/L ratio, platelet count, serum calprotectin and ESR 6 months after treatment initiation. There is statistically significant relation between outcome and CRP being higher in patients with relapse whether before or after treatment. Higher ESR level post treatment predicted relapse (p=0.039). Serum Calprotectin was significantly higher in patients with relapse after treatment (p=0.01) Conclusion: Fecal calprotectin, ESP, CRP are simple non-invasive marker can used to predict outcome in ulcerative colitis patients after treatment initiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]